Wind turbines lower property values, show studies

It was gratifying to see that Northumberland News is beginning to devote significant coverage to the impacts of industrial wind turbines. But while you cited the chief medical officer's report from 2010, and MPAC's study, you must recognize that these are provincial government agencies and they are not impartial, nor is this research current.

Regarding the health impacts, attached is a summary of information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act regarding Dr. Arlene King's report. You will see that various reviewers commented that the report was selective in what was included, and evidence of negative indirect impacts was not acknowledged.

A recent peer-reviewed article by Michael A. Nissenbaum, Jeffery J. Aramini, and Christopher D. Hanning, published in Noise and Health, found that a random sample of residents living within 1.4 kilometres of wind turbines in two Maine communities suffered more from impaired mental health and sleep deprivation than those who lived at least 3.3 kilometres away. Links to a summary of the journal article can be found at http://ontario-wind-resistance.org/health/.

Regarding impacts on real estate values, in contrast to MPAC's contention, a number of studies indicate that the value of houses located near wind farms will decline between 20 and 50 per cent. A recent study was prepared by Lansink Appraisals and Consulting in October 2012, based on the resales of five houses that were originally purchased by the Melancthon wind farm developer at fair market prices, and resold through MLS. Resale prices averaged 38.8 per cent below fair market value, with a range from 23 to 59 per cent below.

A second study was prepared by the Appraisal Group One in Wisconsin. It concluded that properties in "bordering proximity" to wind-energy facilities lost between 39 per cent and 43 per cent of their value, while properties in "close proximity" experience up to 36 per cent loss, and properties in "near proximity" saw a negative impact of 24 to 29 per cent. The study found that properties within sight of a wind turbine suffered a reduction in value of 30 per cent. These studies are all online.

Moreover, the property value decline in our own area has already happened. Now that the project draft site plans have been released, sellers are pulling their houses off the market because no buyer will pay the full value for properties near these proposed turbines.

The last point is that the turbines are much higher than you indicated - the height to the top of the blades is 150 metres, not 100 metres, and they will be visible from many kilometres away.
Jeremy Williams, Windridge Farm, Baltimore